Yukon Soccer Association suspends three players for hazing incidents

Three players on a youth U-14 soccer team have been suspended as a result of their involvement in hazing incidents against fellow teammates that occurred at two Outside tournaments.

Three players on a youth U-14 soccer team have been suspended as a result of their involvement in hazing incidents against fellow teammates that occurred at two Outside tournaments.

In addition to the suspension, all three players will have travel restrictions placed on them by the Yukon Soccer Association at future tournaments and were required to apologize for their actions.

The Yukon Soccer Association has been dealing with this problem since late October after receiving a phone call from two of the victims parents.

After speaking with both the victims and their parents as well as the those directly linked to the hazing, Yukon Soccer began considering a proper course of action.

Brian Gillen, the president of the Yukon Soccer Association, said before coming to a decision, the organization took into consideration both local and national groups, which included local schools in Whitehorse and the Canadian Soccer Association.

“We went through a lot of research to determine an appropriate course of action and therefore we believe that the course of action we are taking is correct,” he said. “I have been around soccer in this town for 29 years and to the best of my recollection this is the first incident that we have had to deal with.”

The suspensions, the length of which are not being disclosed by the association, followed a team meeting on Sunday.

Gillen confirmed the hazing incidents that occurred in a Labour Day tournament in Langley, B.C. and the nationals in October in Charlottetown.

Gillen said all of the incidents occurred well after midnight and that the coaches and mangers had no knowledge at the time they occurred.

The Yukon Soccer Association has a code of conduct for both on and off the field, which was reviewed with all of the Yukon teams that competed at this year’s nationals, but Gillen said it needs to be clearer in the future.

The U-14 boys team were given the sportsmanship award in Charlottetown.